Rachel Kate likes her songs better with a quiet approach

Thursday

Jan 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Rachel Kate's voice is an arresting sound, surprisingly agile, swooping though low and high notes with ease, and changing from a scratchy, teasing yowl to a soulful, bluesy growl, sometimes in the same line.

By VINCENT HARRISFor the Herald-Journal

Rachel Kate's voice is an arresting sound, surprisingly agile, swooping though low and high notes with ease, and changing from a scratchy, teasing yowl to a soulful, bluesy growl, sometimes in the same line.The Charleston-based singer's onstage persona is goofy and powerful, and her songs can be as heartbreaking as they are funny.Kate was raised in Nashville, Tenn. Her father was a musician, and her mother worked for MCA Records for 30 years.Kate says that, though she was surrounded by great music, it took her a while to begin playing.“I didn't really take an interest in playing guitar much myself until 15 or so, when my dad started teaching me,” she said. “Shortly thereafter, he suffered from a severe stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side. From then on I decided to keep music special for me and him. It's a bond that we have for sure. In fact, I decided when I got to college, not to study music in order to keep it as our special bond. I didn't want this sort of ‘trained' influence. It wasn't until I graduated that I realized my calling.”Though she's played with bands and in duo settings, Kate said her songs are served best by a quieter approach.“If it's a ‘listening room' type venue I prefer to play solo or with my cello or musical saw players,” she said.“I write songs with the intention of people listening to them. I want to make a connection with the crowd; it's part of playing live.”

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